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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers

General Atomics has been testing a new railgun that can hurl "hypersonic bricks" at Mach 5 (roughly 3,800mph). Their new projectile, outfitted with a sabot , can travel 4.34 miles downrange — with the gun pointed completely parallel with the ground — even after punching through a steel plate.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has been hit by a second computer virus, a senior military official said Monday, suggesting it was part of a concerted campaign to undermine the country's disputed nuclear program.
Gholam Reza Jalali, the head of an Iranian military unit in charge of combatting sabotage, said that experts discovered the "espionage virus," which he called "Stars.

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A major pharmaceutical company will add 150 workers in Durham as it expands to produce chickenpox and other live-virus vaccines.
The Herald-Sun of Durham reported Monday that Merck & Co.'s plant will begin making Varivax, a chickenpox vaccine recently approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is almost certain to claim the title of world's biggest automaker this year, retaking the top spot from Toyota, which has been hurt by production problems since the Japanese earthquake and still can't escape the shadow of major safety recalls.
The No. 1 title, a morale booster for the winner's employees and managers, would cap GM's remarkable comeback from bankruptcy.

SHANGHAI (AP) — Some of the new Chinese cars unveiled at this week's Shanghai Auto Show are affordable for millions of buyers — a happy development for Beijing that might prove costly for the global automakers producing them.
General Motors Co. unveiled the 630 sedan, the first model from its new Baojun badge developed with Chinese joint venture partners.

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota's car production in Japan plummeted a staggering 62.7 percent in March due to a parts supply crunch following the earthquake and tsunami.
Toyota Motor Corp., the world's top-selling automaker last year, said Monday its domestic production in March was 129,491 vehicles — the lowest since 1976 when Toyota began maintaining production figures.

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co., the second-largest U.S.-based automaker, is scheduled to report first-quarter results before the market opens on Tuesday.
Ford had a very successful 2010, earning $6.6 billion, more than double what it made in 2009 and its largest profit since 1999. The company also cut the staggering debt it amassed to stay in business and avoid bankruptcy protection during the recession.

Food prices are on the rise again, the polar icecaps are melting and the rainforest is burning. These problems have plagued the earth for years, but now one scientist claims he has one simple solution for all of them: eat bugs.
Dutch Professor Arnold van Huis has dedicated himself to convincing the world to eat insects.

Marc Newson, director of this short film, says, “Each hand-made hourglass comprises highly durable borosilicate glass and millions of stainless steel nanoballs, and is available in a 10- or 60-minute timer.”
The only thing more stunning than the filming of the process is the incredible craftsmanship that goes into each product.

The SKF (Norristown, PA) SPEEDI-SLEEVE was designed for shaft sealing applications with an enhanced sealing system, improved reliability, and extended maintenance intervals. According to the company, the system is useful for industrial gearboxes, electrical equipment, crushers, conveyors, fans, and pumps.

Cognex Corporation (Natick, MA) has released a new version of In-Sight Explorer, which now includes an all-in-one surface inspection tool, and all-in-one bead width and position tool, and a robust ID tool that reads multiple codes at one time. The new Flexible Flaw Detection (FFD) edge and surface inspection tool works for both color and grayscale applications.

Hobart Welding Products (Appleton, WI) has introduced the Handler 210MVP, a new wire feet welder that is now available with a Multi-Voltage Plug (MVP) that provides the flexibility to use either 115V or 230V input power. A simple twist allows users to choose the correct plug, which allows them to start welding faster.

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Tool manufacturer Snap-on Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter net income rose 53 percent as demand for its tools rose in all business segments.
The company said net income increased to $56.2 million, or 96 cents per share, from $36.8 million, or 63 cents per share.
Sales rose 11.

ATLANTA (AP) — Kia Motors announced plans Thursday to begin manufacturing the Optima midsize sedan at itsplant in Georgia, a move expected to add about 700 jobs at the complex.
Production on the 2012 Optima is set to begin in the third quarter of this year, Kia Motors said. The plant in West Point currently employs about 2,300 people and the work force is expected to grow to nearly 3,000 by year's end, according to the company.

Federal labor regulators are accusing Boeing Co. of illegally retaliating for a 2008 union strike by adding a non-union assembly line in South Carolina for its new 787 passenger jet.
The complaint filed by the National Labor Relations Board said the remedy should include moving the South Carolina assembly work back to Washington state, where it would be under union jurisdiction.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. said it is suing Apple Inc. for patent rights violations, only days after Apple sued Samsung for the same reason.
Samsung is accusing Apple of violating its rights to 10 smartphone and computer patents. The company filed lawsuits Thursday in Seoul, Tokyo and Mannheim, Germany.

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers have begun checking the level of radiation on cars to be exported from the country in a bid to ease worries among foreign consumers, an industry group said Friday.
The automakers will inspect radiation inside cars and on tires before shipment, said Hirokazu Furukawa, a spokesman for the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota's global car production, disrupted by parts shortages from Japan's earthquake and tsunami, won't return to normal until November or December — imperiling its spot as the world's top-selling automaker.
President Akio Toyoda apologized to customers for the delays due to the March 11 disasters that damaged suppliers in northeastern Japan, affecting automakers around the world.

Natural gas has a reputation of being a reliable and clean fuel, but purchasing this energy source isn’t always easy. Natural gas prices can be extremely volatile for reasons that are often unclear. Energy industry experts point to a variety of reasons for changing natural gas prices, including shifts in demand, weather, supply excesses, or constraints and the amount of gas in storage.